The 2026 fantasy football season is almost here. That means fantasy players are rushing to join a bunch of last-minute leagues. While finding draft values is critical to winning your fantasy football league, avoiding players who will bust is equally important. Therefore, let’s look at eight fantasy football busts to avoid drafting.
Fantasy Football Busts to Avoid
Christian McCaffrey (SF) – ADP 5.8 | RB3
No one scored more PPR fantasy points than Christian McCaffrey last year (416.6). Unfortunately, the superstar turned 30 this offseason and is a ticking time bomb because of his age and injury history. He had 413 touches in 2025, a career high. The last time McCaffrey had over 400 touches in a year, the superstar missed 69.7% of the games over the next two seasons with an injury. More importantly, the superstar missed time during training camp with muscle tightness, giving fantasy players PTSD from the 2024 season.
De’Von Achane (MIA) – ADP 10.8 | RB6
Achane was one of five running backs to average over 20 PPR fantasy points per game last year (20.2). However, he was the most dependent of the five on his role in the passing game to hit that fantasy points-per-contest mark. Over half of his fantasy production during the past two years has come in the passing game. Furthermore, Achane’s fantasy production tanked when Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined. I won’t draft him as a mid-range RB1 and would like to avoid picking Achane altogether with Malik Willis under center.
Justin Jefferson (MIN) – ADP 11.8 | WR6
While he has been a fantasy superstar since entering the NFL, Jefferson is coming off a massively disappointing season. The superstar finished last year as the WR21, averaging 11.9 PPR fantasy points per game despite finishing seventh in the league with 141 targets. Meanwhile, the Vikings added Jauan Jennings in free agency, adding some target competition for Jefferson. While the addition of Kyler Murray should help him rebound from an awful 2025 season, fantasy players want to avoid drafting Jefferson as a top-six wide receiver and a top-12 pick.
Bucky Irving (TB) – ADP 45.8 | RB20
After finishing his rookie season as the RB13, averaging 14.4 PPR fantasy points per game, Irving regressed last year and struggled to stay healthy, missing seven contests. Furthermore, he had offseason shoulder surgery. More importantly, Irving averaged two fewer yards per rushing attempt and 0.28 fewer fantasy points per touch last year compared to his rookie season. The Buccaneers signed Kenneth Gainwell to a significant contract in free agency, calling the veteran a co-starter during training camp, showing their lack of trust in Irving as a featured running back.
Jameson Williams (DET) – ADP 57.2 | WR26
Last season, Williams quietly finished as the WR12, showing what a down year it was at the wide receiver position. His 12.9 PPR fantasy points per game average ranked 19th on a points-per-game basis, ranking behind Wan’Dale Robinson (13.6) and Christian Watson (13.2). Furthermore, Williams was hard to trust every week, scoring 6.6 or fewer fantasy points in 41.2% of the games, including zero twice. Fantasy players should avoid drafting the former Alabama star at his sixth-round and WR26 ADP and target a pass catcher with less volatility.
Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) – ADP 70.2 | TE5
Unfortunately, Fannin will have massive target competition in 2026 after the Browns drafted KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to pair with Jerry Jeudy. The second-year pro averaged 9.3 PPR fantasy points per game in the 11 contests with seven or fewer targets last season. By comparison, Fannin averaged 16.9 fantasy points per game in the five contests with eight or more targets. Furthermore, Cleveland has the worst quarterback situation in the NFL, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders under center. Fannin should get drafted closer to TE10 than TE5.
Courtland Sutton (DEN) – ADP 76.6 | WR33
Denver made a blockbuster trade during the offseason, acquiring Jaylen Waddle. Unfortunately, the trade crushes Sutton’s fantasy value. The former SMU star was the WR19 on a points-per-game basis last year, averaging 12.9 PPR fantasy points per contest. Furthermore, Troy Franklin pushed him for the team lead in targets last season, seeing only 20 fewer than the veteran (124 vs. 104). Meanwhile, Pat Bryant has been impressive during training camp. Sutton has seen a decline in targets and receiving touchdowns in back-to-back years, a trend I expect to continue.
Jake Ferguson (DAL) – ADP 112.4 | TE12
Ferguson shouldn’t get drafted in standard-size leagues, as CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens limit his upside. Last year, he finished as the TE10 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 11.1 PPR fantasy points per contest. However, Ferguson was significantly better when Lamb left the game early or was sidelined with an injury, averaging 8.3 targets, a touchdown, and 18.6 fantasy points per game in those four contests during the fantasy season. By comparison, he averaged 5.6 targets, 0.3 touchdowns, and 9.4 fantasy points in the 12 contests with Lamb playing healthy.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.